Here's How Interactive Widgets Work in macOS Sonoma

[MacRumors]

In macOS Sonoma, Apple has changed the widgets landscape. No longer do widgets have to be hidden offscreen and largely forgotten in the Notifications Center panel. Now they live right on your desktop – and they're interactive, too.

It's worth noting from the off that widgets can still be parked in Notification Center, but now they can also be dragged out onto the desktop. The first widget can be placed anywhere, then Apple provides placement guidance for subsequent widgets by displaying a widget-shaped outline, indicating where they can be snapped into position in relation to the others.

Alternatively, if you right-click on an empty space on the desktop, the menu that appears includes a new "Edit Widgets..." option. Selecting this brings up a widget gallery, which – thanks to a new Continuity feature between Apple devices – also includes widgets from your iPhone in all available sizes. So even if you don't have the corresponding Mac app, you can still use the iOS widget right on your desktop. Simply drag it from the gallery into an available space.

If you're running the macOS Sonoma beta, trying out iPhone widgets is a good way to get used to their interactivity until third-party developers have a chance to bake this into their Mac widgets. As it stands, only Apple's own widgets offer (sometimes buggy) interactions.

In the Home app widget, for example, you can control specific accessories by clicking the individual buttons to turn them on and off.

If you right-click a widget, any available customization options appear in the contextual menu. Widgets are available in Small, Medium, and Large sizes, and all include an option to "Remove Widget" if you want to get rid of it.

When not in use, widgets fade into the background by taking on the color of your wallpaper, so you can concentrate on the active app or window. There's also an option in System Settings to change the widget style to from full color to Monochrome, for a more uniform look.

Widgets have evolved in macOS Sonoma. By bringing them in from the dark and out into the open workspace of your desktop, users are actively encouraged to work alongside them. What are your thoughts on Apple's new take on Mac widgets? Are you more likely to use them in their new guise? Let us know in the comments.

Article Link: Here's How Interactive Widgets Work in macOS Sonoma

 

[Populus]

This is one of the nicest additions to macOS along with the new lockscreen and the animated wallpapers.

It tempts me to buy an M2 mac, but I'll be strong and wait until the M3 or M4 generation with my 2014 mac mini. Monterey runs great on it (8GB RAM + 1TB SSD)

 

[Leon Ze Professional]

I'm surprised it has taken Apple this long to implement widget functionality on the Mac desktop.

 

[ratbastard]

Sounds a lot like an updated version of Dashboard.

 

[Pasqualem]

I wish you could lock widgets to specific spaces and they wouldn’t be on each one.. they’re too distracting for me behind certain windows even faded

 

[bollman]

Stop cluttering my desktop.
Active Desktop went nowhere, I highly doubt this will go anywhere either.

 

[SilverRubicon]

Are these available on Intel macs?

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

I kind of like this.

Now, if only Netatmo would update their iPhone app so I can use those widgets on the Mac Desktop, too...

 

[steve09090]

My life is now complete.

 

[Apple Fan 2008]

I currently have the clock widget on my Desktop myself

 

[Populus]

I currently have the clock widget on my Desktop myself

I actually have an app (DockTime) that sits on the Dock, and it is a clock. The icon is a clock that shows the time in real time. I'm eager to have this widgets to get rid of that app, and have a proper clock on my desktop.

 

[therunningman]

This reminds me of Windows Vista's "Gadgets." Which, at the time, was a clear rip off of macOS' Dashboard.

I really miss dashboard.

 

[contacos]

I'm surprised it has taken Apple this long to implement widget functionality on the Mac desktop.

I'm surprised it has taken Apple this long to bring back widget functionality on the Mac desktop.

 

[gwhizkids]

Sounds a lot like an updated version of Dashboard.

Not really. Much better. If you don’t use apps full screen, you can still see the widget content (in duotone, matching whatever is behind it on the wallpaper).

I’d like to see the ability to change the widget size from the widget itself function added to the iOS (or at least the iPadOS) widgets.

 

[gwhizkids]

Stop cluttering my desktop.
Active Desktop went nowhere, I highly doubt this will go anywhere either.

Easy response: just don’t add any widgets. Problem solved.

Not sure why you would deny this to all the rest of us who actually like this feature though.

 

[adrianlondon]

What's good about these (and yes, they're available on Intel macs - it's what I have) is that they're widgets from my phone's apps.

They keep themselves updated by magic (I have Bluetooth turned off on my phone and laptop). OK, it's via iCloud of course.

For example, I have desktop widgets now from iOS apps Readdle Calendars and Pedometer. They keep in sync with the phone.

Hint: Turn on the monochrome mode for widgets in Settings. They look great. You can duplicate them (in colour) in the Notification Centre thing if you wish.

 

[therunningman]

I'm surprised it has taken Apple this long to bring back widget functionality on the Mac desktop.

Absolutely!

 

[robbietop]

After a week with it, I don't see a need for widgets and can remember why the original Dashboard foundered.

Sorry, not see. Remember. Tiger was my first.

 

[rizzo41999]

10.4 forever.

 

[Rossik]

Back in Dashboard days, there was even a line of terminal code or perhaps a setting in the Onyx app or such where you then hold on to a widget while closing dashboard and it would remain on the desktop.

 

[contacos]

Absolutely!

View attachment 2222407

Omg this is giving me flashbacks to when I was learning English with friends on AIM / MSN. I always used this translator widget. Completely forgot about that

 

[spinedoc77]

Hoping they don't eventually take them out of the notification area. I rarely look at my desktop, I don't even bother with shortcuts or folders on there. Same with iOS, I highly prefer the widgets page versus having them on the iOS desktop.

 

[Morod]

So glad widgets are back on the Mac! Thank you, Apple.

 

[Hopefully Smarter]

Nah. Had widgets. Got rid of the clutter.

 

[TPALTony]

Now if we could only have a place to put all these widgets... Some dedicated space we could put them so they don't clutter up the desktop........ Oh wait.